Wrapping apparatus for pallets

ABSTRACT

A wrapping apparatus for pallets is a sturdy plastic wrap for securing products on pallets that has criss-crossed straps with tightening devices that are operated using a cordless drill. The ends of the straps have hooks that attach to the corners of the pallet. As the disc shaped tighteners are turned clockwise, the straps are shortened tightening the straps and therefore tightening the plastic wrap over the cargo.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains materialwhich is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has noobjection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent documentor the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and TrademarkOffice patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrightrights whatsoever. 37 CFR 1.71(d).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The following includes information that may be useful in understandingthe present invention(s). It is not an admission that any of theinformation provided herein is prior art, or material, to the presentlydescribed or claimed inventions, or that any publication or documentthat is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to the field of cargo wrap andmore specifically relates to a wrapping apparatus for pallets.

2. Description of the Related Art

Shrink wrap has considerable advantages over tarps, construction plasticsheeting and other types of covers that can move and chafe paintedsurfaces when covering loads being transported or stored. Shrink wrapprotects against all weather damage; it is waterproof and can be sealedaround entire units and goods stacked on pallets to eliminate anyweather-related losses, including rain, snow, wind, sun. Unfortunately,it is a single-use product. After the goods are delivered, the wrap isremoved and thrown away, becoming yet another plastic, non-biodegradableelement that ends up in our landfills. It also takes time and energy towrap freight for shipping, as workers must walk around the freightseveral times in order to cover its entire surface and then apply heatto shrink the plastic.

One of the modern problems with economies where a never ending stream ofproducts are shipped in all directions across industrialized nations isthe amount of waste products that are developed. For instance, boxes,cardboard, paper, and especially plastic is manufactured for containersand for wrapping pallets of multiple containers to keep them securelyattached to the pallet. Plastic containers cast into landfills alone aredeveloping into a huge environmental problem. Water bottles and milkjugs are discarded by the millions everyday and end up in landfills.Much of these plastics are not recyclable. An emerging problem is theamount of shrink wrap that is developed and tossed into landfills. Whiletechnology advances and new and better products are inventedcontinuously, the problem of waste plastic in the environment tends toget overlooked. There may not be any one single solution to the problem,but solutions are needed just the same. An innovation that would helpreduce the amount of waste would be welcomed.

Various attempts have been made to solve the above-mentioned problemssuch as those found in U.S. Pub. No. 2007/0289682 to Graham Young, U.S.Pub. No. 2016/0001922 to Evgeniy Sadykov, U.S. Pat. No. 7,934,894 toKevin Temple, U.S. Pat. No. 5,226,544 to Gallucci et al., and U.S. Pat.No. 2003/0029984 to Paul Giampavolo. This art is representative ofpalletized cargo coverings. None of the above inventions and patents,taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the inventionas claimed.

Ideally, shipping plastic wrap should provide multiple usages to reduceenvironmental waste, and yet, would operate reliably and be manufacturedat a modest expense. Thus, a need exists for a reliable wrappingapparatus for pallets to avoid the above-mentioned problems.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known cargo wrapart, the present invention provides a novel wrapping apparatus forpallets. The general purpose of the present invention, which will bedescribed subsequently in greater detail, is to provide multiple usagesto reduce environmental waste.

A wrapping apparatus for pallets preferably comprises a sheet ofwrapping material adapted to be placed over and around material placedupon a pallet, a plurality of tightening strips each including anelongated body having a length and a releasable connector on oppositeends that is adapted to releasably connect with the pallet and therebyreleasably hold the sheet of wrapping material securely thereto therebycovering and releasably holding the material upon the pallet. Thetightening strips are attached to a top surface of the sheet of wrappingmaterial along the length. Cross-tightening strips include an elongatedbody having a length and two opposite ends respectively connected to twoof the tightening strips.

A tightening member is connected to a portion of the elongated body andis adapted to be rotated to increase tension within the cross-tighteningstrip and pull two of the tightening strips towards one another tothereby tighten the wrapping apparatus around the material placed uponthe pallet and increase the tension within the tightening strips. In aninstalled condition, the device is able to more securely but releasablyhold the material to the pallet via the releasable connectors.

The tightening member(s) is adapted to be rotated via a drill member andincludes a releasable lock member adapted to hold said tightening memberin a chosen rotated position. The tightening member is also adapted tobe rotated in two directions, and when rotated in a clock-wisedirection, the tension within the tightening member is increased. Whenrotated in a counter-clock-wise direction the tension within thetightening member is decreased.

The sheet of wrapping material is preferably formed from a plasticmaterial to provide cost effectiveness and weather proofing for thecargo it covers. The tightening strips are formed from a material chosenfrom a group of materials consisting of plastic, cotton, burlap,fiberglass, nylon, and rubber.

The releasable connectors are formed as hook members located at thecorners of the rectangular shaped sheet of wrapping material. Thetightening strips are attached to the top surface of the sheet ofwrapping material in a crisscross configuration and may be formed intothe wrapping material. The tightening strips may be attached to the topsurface of the sheet of wrapping material in a crisscross configuration,such that the opposite ends are attached in proximity to each respectivecorner of the rectangular shape.

An improved pallet system may comprise a pallet member having asubstantially flat top surface, a substantially flat bottom surface, andthat is substantially rigid and formed having a rectangular shape withfour corners. A wrapping apparatus that comprises a sheet of wrappingmaterial adapted to be placed over and around cargo placed upon thepallet member and a plurality of tightening strips each including anelongated body having a length with a releasable connector at theopposite ends. Each releasable connector is adapted to releasablyconnect to the pallet member and thereby releasably hold the sheet ofwrapping material securely thereto and thereby cover and releasably holdthe material upon the pallet member.

The tightening strips may be attached to the top surface of the sheet ofwrapping material along its length from corner to diagonally oppositecorner and a cross-tightening strip may be horizontally attached betweentwo opposite tightening strips on the same side of the pallet, eachincluding an elongated body having a length and two opposite endsrespectively connected to two of the tightening strips.

A tightening member is connected to a portion of the elongated body andis adapted to be rotated to thereby increase tension within thecross-tightening strip and pull the two tightening strips towards oneanother to thereby tighten the wrapping apparatus around the materialplaced upon the pallet member, increase tension on the plurality oftightening strips, and more securely and releasably hold the material tothe pallet member via the releasable connectors.

The tightening member is adapted to be rotated via a drill member andincludes a releasable lock member adapted to hold the tightening memberin a chosen rotated position. The tightening member is adapted to berotated in two directions. When rotated in a clock-wise direction thetension within the tightening member is increased, and when rotated in acounter-clock-wise direction the tension within the tightening member isdecreased.

The sheet of wrapping material is formed from a plastic material. Theplurality of tightening strips are formed from a material chosen from agroup of materials consisting of plastic, cotton, burlap, fiberglass,and rubber.

The releasable connectors are formed as hook members that are located atthe corners of the rectangular shaped wrapping material and thetightening strips are attached to the hook members. The tighteningstrips are attached to the top surface of the sheet of wrapping materialin a crisscross configuration. The plurality of tightening strips areattached to the top surface of the sheet of wrapping material in acrisscross configuration, such that the opposite ends thereof areattached in proximity to each respective corner of the rectangularshape.

The present invention holds significant improvements and serves as awrapping apparatus for pallets. For purposes of summarizing theinvention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of theinvention have been described herein. It is to be understood that notnecessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with anyone particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may beembodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes oneadvantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarilyachieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. Thefeatures of the invention which are believed to be novel areparticularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concludingportion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, andadvantages of the present invention will become better understood withreference to the following drawings and detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The figures which accompany the written portion of this specificationillustrate embodiments and method(s) of use for the present invention,wrapping apparatus for pallets, constructed and operative according tothe teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view illustrating an in-use condition of awrapping apparatus for pallets according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a non-tensioned condition ofthe wrapping apparatus for pallets according to an embodiment of thepresent invention of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the tightening member illustrating thewrapping apparatus for pallets according to an embodiment of the presentinvention of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view illustrating an in-use condition of animproved pallet system according to an embodiment of the presentinvention. of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a non-tensioned condition ofthe improved pallet system according to an embodiment of the presentinvention of FIG. 1

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the tightening member illustrating theimproved pallet system according to an embodiment of the presentinvention of FIG. 1.

The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter bedescribed in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein likedesignations denote like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As discussed above, embodiments of the present invention relate to cargowrap and more particularly to a wrapping apparatus for pallets as usedto improve the ease of use while reducing environmental waste.

Generally speaking, a wrapping apparatus for pallets is a sturdy plasticwrap for securing products on pallets that has criss-crossed straps withtightening devices that are operated using a cordless drill. The ends ofthe straps have hooks that attach to the corners of the pallet. As thedisc shaped tighteners are turned clockwise, the straps are shortenedtightening the straps and therefore tightening the plastic wrap over thecargo.

In greater detail now, referring to the drawings by numerals ofreference there is shown in FIG. 1, a perspective view illustrating anin-use condition of wrapping apparatus for pallets 100 according to anembodiment of the present invention.

Wrapping apparatus for pallets 100 preferably comprises sheet ofwrapping material 102 adapted to be placed over and around materialplaced upon pallet 105, a plurality of tightening strips 110 eachincluding elongated body 111 having a length and releasable connector112 on opposite ends that is adapted to releasably connect with pallet105 and thereby releasably hold sheet of wrapping material 102 securelythereto thereby covering and releasably holding the material upon pallet105. Tightening strips 110 are attached to top surface 103 of sheet ofwrapping material 102 along the length. Cross-tightening strip 115includes elongated body 111 having a length and two opposite endsrespectively connected to two of tightening strips 110.

Referring now to FIG. 2, is a perspective view illustrating anon-tensioned condition of wrapping apparatus for pallets 100 accordingto an embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 1.

Sheet of wrapping material 102 is preferably formed from a plasticmaterial to provide cost effectiveness and weather proofing for cargo140 it covers. Tightening strips 110 are formed from a material chosenfrom a group of materials consisting of plastic, cotton, burlap,fiberglass, nylon, and rubber.

Releasable connector 112 are formed as hook members 135 located atcorners 104 of the rectangular shaped sheet of wrapping material 102.Tightening strips 110 are attached to top surface 103 of sheet ofwrapping material 102 in a crisscross configuration and may be formedinto sheet of wrapping material 102. Tightening strips 110 may beattached to top surface 103 of sheet of wrapping material 102 in acrisscross configuration, such that the opposite ends are attached inproximity to each respective corner(s) of the rectangular shape.

Referring now to FIG. 3, is a perspective view of the tightening memberillustrating wrapping apparatus for pallets 100 according to anembodiment of the present invention of FIG. 1.

Tightening member 120 is connected to a portion of elongated body 111and is adapted to be rotated to increase tension within cross-tighteningstrip 115 and pull two of cross-tightening strips 115 towards oneanother to thereby tighten wrapping apparatus for pallets 100 aroundmaterial 141 or cargo 140 placed upon pallet 105 and increase thetension within tightening strips 110. In an installed condition,wrapping apparatus for pallets 100 is able to more securely butreleasably hold material 141 to pallet 105 via releasable connector 112.

Tightening member 120 is adapted to be rotated via drill member 125 andincludes releasable lock member 130 adapted to hold tightening member120 in a chosen rotated position. Tightening member 120 is also adaptedto be rotated in two directions, and when rotated in a clock-wisedirection, the tension within tightening member 120 is increased. Whenrotated in a counter-clock-wise direction the tension within tighteningmember 120 is decreased.

Referring now to FIG. 4, shows a perspective view illustrating an in-usecondition of improved pallet system 200 according to an embodiment ofthe present invention. Of FIG. 1.

Improved pallet system 200 may comprise pallet member 202 having asubstantially flat top surface 204, a substantially flat bottom surface203, and that is substantially rigid and formed having a rectangularshape with four corners 205. Wrapping apparatus 206 that comprises sheetof wrapping material 210 adapted to be placed over and around cargo 140placed upon pallet member 202 and a plurality of tightening strips 215each including elongated body 216 having a length with releasableconnector 217 at the opposite ends. Releasable connector 217 is adaptedto releasably connect to pallet member 202 and thereby releasably holdsheet of wrapping material 210 securely thereto and thereby cover andreleasably hold material 141 upon pallet member 202.

Referring now to FIG. 5, is a perspective view illustrating anon-tensioned condition of improved pallet system 200 according to anembodiment of the present invention of FIG. 1.

Tightening strips 215 may be attached to top surface 204 of sheet ofwrapping material 210 along its length from corner(s) 205 to diagonallyopposite corner(s) 205 and cross-tightening strip 220 may behorizontally attached between two opposite tightening strips 215 on thesame side of pallet member 202, each including elongated body 216 havinga length and two opposite ends respectively connected to two oftightening strips 215.

Sheet of wrapping material 210 is formed from a plastic material. Theplurality of tightening strips 215 are formed from a material chosenfrom a group of materials consisting of plastic, cotton, burlap,fiberglass, and rubber.

Releasable connectors 217 are formed hook members 218 that are locatedat corner(s) 205 of the rectangular shaped sheet of wrapping material210 and tightening strips 215 are attached to hook members 218.Tightening strips 215 are attached to top surface 204 of sheet ofwrapping material 210 in a crisscross configuration. The plurality oftightening strips 215 are attached to top surface 204 of sheet ofwrapping material 210 in a crisscross configuration, such that theopposite ends thereof are attached in proximity to each respectivecorner(s) 205 of the rectangular shape.

Referring now to FIG. 6, is a perspective view of the tightening memberillustrating improved pallet system 200 according to an embodiment ofthe present invention of FIG. 1.

Tightening member 225 is connected to a portion of elongated body 216and is adapted to be rotated to thereby increase tension withincross-tightening strip 220 and pull the two tightening strips 215towards one another to thereby tighten wrapping apparatus 206 aroundmaterial 141 placed upon pallet member 202, increase tension on theplurality of tightening strips 215, and more securely and releasablyhold material 141 to pallet member 202 via releasable connector(s) 217.

Tightening member 225 is adapted to be rotated via drill member 230 andincludes releasable lock member 226 adapted to hold tightening member225 in a chosen rotated position. Tightening member 225 is adapted to berotated in two directions. When rotated in a clock-wise direction thetension within tightening member 225 is increased, and when rotated in acounter-clock-wise direction the tension within tightening member 225 isdecreased.

Wrapping apparatus for pallets 100 may be manufactured and provided forsale in a wide variety of sizes and shapes for a wide assortment ofapplications. Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciatedthat, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as designpreference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structuralrequirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., otherkit contents or arrangements such as, for example, including more orless components, customized parts, different color combinations, partsmay be sold separately, etc., may be sufficient.

It should be noted that the steps described in the method of use can becarried out in many different orders according to user preference. Ifthe use of the term “step of” is used, it should not be interpreted as“step for”, in the claims herein and is not intended to invoke theprovisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112, ¶ 6. Upon reading this specification, itshould be appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances, consideringsuch issues as design preference, user preferences, marketingpreferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials,technological advances, etc., other methods of use arrangements such as,for example, different orders within above-mentioned list, eliminationor addition of certain steps, including or excluding certain maintenancesteps, etc., may be sufficient.

The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary andnumerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readilyenvisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which areintended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention.Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S.Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially thescientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiarwith patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from acursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure ofthe application

What is claimed is new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent isset forth in the appended claims:
 1. A wrapping apparatus for palletscomprising: a sheet of wrapping material; wherein said sheet of wrappingmaterial is adapted to be placed over and around material placed upon apallet; a plurality of tightening strips each including: an elongatedbody having a length; a releasable connector on opposite ends thereof;wherein each said releasable connector is adapted to releasably connectwith said pallet and thereby releasably hold said sheet of wrappingmaterial securely thereto and thereby cover and releasably hold saidmaterial upon said pallet; wherein said plurality of tightening stripsare attached to a top surface of said sheet of wrapping material along alength thereof; a cross-tightening strip including; an elongated bodyhaving a length and two opposite ends respectively connected to two ofsaid plurality of tightening strips; and a tightening member; whereinsaid tightening member is connected to a portion of said elongated bodyand is adapted to be rotated to thereby increase tension within saidcross-tightening strip and pull said two of said plurality of tighteningstrips towards one another to thereby tighten said wrapping apparatusaround said material placed upon said pallet, increase tension withinsaid plurality of tightening strips, and more securely releasably holdsaid material to said pallet via said releasable connectors.
 2. Thewrapping apparatus of claim 1, wherein said tightening member is adaptedto be rotated via a drill member.
 3. The wrapping apparatus of claim 1,wherein said tightening member includes a releasable lock member adaptedto hold said tightening member in a chosen rotated position.
 4. Thewrapping apparatus of claim 1, wherein said tightening member is adaptedto be rotated in two directions; wherein when rotated in a clock-wisedirection said tension within said tightening member is increased, andwhen rotated in a counter-clock-wise direction said tension within saidtightening member is decreased.
 5. The wrapping apparatus of claim 1,wherein said sheet of wrapping material is formed from a plasticmaterial.
 6. The wrapping apparatus of claim 1, wherein said pluralityof tightening strips are formed from a material chosen from a group ofmaterials consisting of plastic, cotton, burlap, fiberglass, and rubber.7. The wrapping apparatus of claim 1, wherein said releasable connectorsare formed as hook members.
 8. The wrapping apparatus of claim 1,wherein said sheet of wrapping material is formed having a rectangularshape.
 9. The wrapping apparatus of claim 1, wherein said plurality oftightening strips are attached to said top surface of said sheet ofwrapping material in a crisscross configuration.
 10. The wrappingapparatus of claim 8, wherein said plurality of tightening strips areattached to said top surface of said sheet of wrapping material in acrisscross configuration, such that said opposite ends thereof areattached in proximity to each respective corner of said rectangularshape.
 11. An improved pallet system comprising: a pallet memberincluding: a substantially flat top surface; a substantially flat bottomsurface; and wherein said pallet member is substantially rigid and isformed having a rectangular shape having four corners; and a wrappingapparatus comprising: a sheet of wrapping material; wherein said sheetof wrapping material is adapted to be placed over and around materialplaced upon said pallet member; a plurality of tightening strips eachincluding: an elongated body having a length; a releasable connector onopposite ends thereof; wherein each said releasable connector is adaptedto releasably connect with said pallet member and thereby releasablyhold said sheet of wrapping material securely thereto and thereby coverand releasably hold said material upon said pallet member; wherein saidplurality of tightening strips are attached to a top surface of saidsheet of wrapping material along a length thereof; a cross-tighteningstrip including; an elongated body having a length and two opposite endsrespectively connected to two of said plurality of tightening strips;and a tightening member; wherein said tightening member is connected toa portion of said elongated body and is adapted to be rotated to therebyincrease tension within said cross-tightening strip and pull said two ofsaid plurality of tightening strips towards one another to therebytighten said wrapping apparatus around said material placed upon saidpallet member, increase tension within said plurality of tighteningstrips, and more securely releasably hold said material to said palletmember via said releasable connectors.
 12. The improved pallet system ofclaim 11, wherein said tightening member is adapted to be rotated via adrill member.
 13. The improved pallet system of claim 11, wherein saidtightening member includes a releasable lock member adapted to hold saidtightening member in a chosen rotated position.
 14. The improved palletsystem of claim 11, wherein said tightening member is adapted to berotated in two directions; wherein when rotated in a clock-wisedirection said tension within said tightening member is increased, andwhen rotated in a counter-clock-wise direction said tension within saidtightening member is decreased.
 15. The improved pallet system of claim11, wherein said sheet of wrapping material is formed from a plasticmaterial.
 16. The improved pallet system of claim 11, wherein saidplurality of tightening strips are formed from a material chosen from agroup of materials consisting of plastic, cotton, burlap, fiberglass,and rubber.
 17. The improved pallet system of claim 11, wherein saidreleasable connectors are formed as hook members.
 18. The improvedpallet system of claim 11, wherein said sheet of wrapping material isformed having a rectangular shape.
 19. The improved pallet system ofclaim 11, wherein said plurality of tightening strips are attached tosaid top surface of said sheet of wrapping material in a crisscrossconfiguration.
 20. The improved pallet system of claim 18, wherein saidplurality of tightening strips are attached to said top surface of saidsheet of wrapping material in a crisscross configuration, such that saidopposite ends thereof are attached in proximity to each respectivecorner of said rectangular shape.